After the call for a live debate between CM candidates by Arvind Kejriwal, leading candidates from different parties came together for a live debate on Times Now. Ajay Maken from Congress, Arvind Kejriwal from Aam Aadmi Party, and Kiran Bedi from BJP faced off in a debate moderated by Arnab Goswami.

“Main bhi tha debate mein...”

Below is the exclusive transcript of the debate:

Arnab Goswami- Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, I welcome you all to this very special edition of Newshour where we have the exclusive debate between the Chief Minister aspirants for Delhi. We have Aam Aadmi Party supremo and ex-CM of Delhi, Mr Arvind Kejriwal and Former Top Cop, BJP Leader Kiran Bedi with us.

*Cough* *Cough*

Arnab- Kejriwal ji why don’t you take some medicine. You have been coughing forever.

Arnab- Oh yes, Mr. Maken is also there with us. Anyway, moving on, we will raise the important issues facing Delhi tonight. Kicking off, Ms Bedi, Do you think Shashi Tharoor should come clean on the Sunanda Pushkar case?

Kiran Bedi- Hain? Arnab, I think you are getting confused. This is not your regular Newshour show where you have to start with Sunanda Pushkar case. This is a debate for issues facing Delhi. You should ask questions affecting the public.

Arnab– Ms Bedi please don’t teach me what to debate. My career as a journalist is much longer than your career as a politician. If you don’t have an answer then admit that you are clueless. How can you dodge such an important question? You should have picked some other channel if you wanted to dodge questions. Ok our next question is for Mr Kejriwal. Mr Kejriwal, you have promised that you won’t resign this time if you are elected. Why should we believe you?

Kejriwal- Arnab, last time..

Arnab- No no Mr Kejriwal, forget about the last time. You have to answer for the upcoming election. Why are you deviating from the question I asked? My simple question to you is that what guarantee do we have that you won’t resign this time and you are mentioning last time.

Kejriwal- Arey yaar if you..

Arnab- No ifs and buts Mr Kejriwal. You should have picked some other channel if you wanted to give circular replies. We want direct answers. Ok our next question is to Ms Bedi. Kiran ji for a long time you said you won’t join politics, why have you entered the fray now?

Kiran Bedi- Arnab we gathered here today to discuss our vision for Delhi. Can we debate important issues like water, electricity and safety?

Arnab- Oh so you will teach me what to debate. Ms Bedi, join a news channel, become an editor and then you are free to debate whatever you want. This is the Newshour and we stick to direct questions on the issues that matter. You should have picked some other channel if you wanted a frivolous debate. Ok our next question is for Mr. Kejriwal.

Arnab- Mr Kejriwal, What will be the size of the house you will occupy after Delhi elections in case you win?

Kejriwal- Arnab I haven’t thought about..

Arnab- You haven’t thought? You are fighting the elections and you haven’t given any thought to the important issues? This is amazing. Ladies and Gentlemen this is amazing. Mr Kejriwal, if you wanted to have a thoughtless debate, you should have picked some other channel.

(Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi get up from their seats and start walking towards the door)

Arnab- Wait, where are you going?

Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi (In chorus)- To pick another news channel

Arnab- There you have it ladies and gentlemen. CM aspirants in Delhi prefer to run away instead of answering direct questions on important issues.